[Jaymoss]

Originally Posted by Chris

Counter-intuitively, telegraphing it in advance is likely to lessen the chances of escalation. Russia can’t be surprised when hardened military installations 150 miles behind the front line suddenly start exploding and can’t be panicked into doing anything rash.

Incidentally the very worst escalation, in the very unlikely event of it happening, would be a very small tactical nuclear weapon used somewhere in Ukraine. For all the Nato aid that’s gone there, Ukraine is not in Nato and doesn’t have article 5 protection. We do. No matter how crackpot Putin gets, there are enough people in Russia sensible enough to save their own skins who would refuse to launch an attack on any Nato member.

Now I do not necessarily think this will ever happen but there is a niggle in my paranoia that sees the UK used as a sacrificial lamb where Russia hits us with a nuke to prove they are will to do so and the rest of NATO back down in fear of global annihilation